The Asus Eee 4GB 701 series PC has made a huge hit in the USA since its launch in early November. The item literally sold off the shelves within a minute of its introductory 10,000 unit distribution. The Asus Eee 4GB with a built in web cam has a seven inch display and weighs around two pounds.

It has an Intel mobile CPU and chipset. It is preloaded Linux and Microsoft XP compatible. The XP drivers are included. It has an internal WiFi 802.11 b/g enabling users to access the Internet via available Hot Spots. There is 512 MB of memory with the ability to upgrade to 1 GB. It should be noted that upgrades will void the warranty.

The Asus Eee has 4 GB flash embedded storage and an additional 100GB is available with the Asus exclusive E-HD external drive. Other options for storage include USB devices, and a memory stick card slot. There are three USB ports and a SDHC card reader.

The Asus Eee has a 300 pixel video camera is built in and high definition audio. The system has built in stereo speakers with audio in/out jacks and VGA out capabilities. The 4 cell battery has a qualified 3.5 hour battery life. Asus qualifies the battery life as dependent on the user´s habits.

The dimensions of the Asus Eee 4GB 701 is 8.86 inches wide by 6.30 inches in diameter and weighs around 2 pounds. It is comparable to a ladies clutch bag in terms of portability. It comes with a cover sleeve case to protect the outer surface and currently comes in the colors black and white. The box contains an AC adapter charger, the Eee 701, instruction book and back up CD Rom. The current price is $399.

AsusTek Company is based in Taiwan with a presence in virtually all parts of the world. The company is focused on serving the international community by opening financial and technical offices world-wide. It currently employs one hundred thousand employees with a substantial portion of its budget devoted to research and design. A recent 1300 units purchase by Fresno Unified School District in California was made due to its shock resistant design and ease in portability. An initial survey indicated that the students and faculty find the Asus Eee a great asset in education and affordability.

In the weeks before Christmas 2007 and the holiday season, AsusTek will release two more Eee laptops. The Asus Eee 4GB 700 and the Asus 2GB 700. These models are primarily for surfing the web and directed research projects for students or on- the- go professionals. The two models do not have a built in video camera, but the internal system is substantially the same. These models will sell for $299 and $349 respectively.

The popular Eee is not without its critics. IT Wire reports that Asus Eee may have misrepresented the Linux loaded capabilities. According to IT Wire, some Linux advocates say the Eee uses Xandros a Debian-based distribution that charges a license fee and has an agreement with Microsoft similar to the one signed by Novell.

Additionally, some commentators knowledgeable of Linux believe there may be some copyright issues involved that may present problems. Another concern is expressed by Cliff Biffle, a Java developer who invented the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface for Linux. He states that Asus did not follow the rules required by GPL when it modified a particular module of the Linux kernel. Asus is required to publish the source code for the modified module and the name of the author or provide a new name for the modification.

Notwithstanding the critics, the very popular Asus Eee is projecting sales to reach three to five million for year 2008. Its short term goals are expected to be met by selling 350 thousand by years end.

External Link:
Asus eeePC violates GPL say Linux stalwarts -- http://www.itwire.com/content/view/15490/